Best Masticating Juicer – Juicing Unit Reviews

Juicing is not a new concept. The earliest documented evidence of juicing was evident in the Dead Sea scroll, around 70 A.D. where they described a mash of pomegranate and fig. They believed it gave great strength. People still juice as a way to absorb nutrients and enzymes from fruit and vegetables instead of eating them with the goal of improved health. What has changed is the way that we extract the juice from fruit and vegetables. The first juicing machine was invented in the 1930’s by Dr. Norman Walker. From his first juicing machine there have been many variations. There are juicers that work through centrifugal force and others that mimic chewing, masticating. They are both excellent options. They have different price points and have slightly different outcomes.

Types of Juicers

Centrifugal Juicing Machines

Centrifugal juicing machines are the ones advertised on TV infomercials. They are less expensive than masticating juice machines. Centrifugal juicers extract juice from fruit and vegetables through high-speed spinning blade shredding the meat of the fruit or vegetable, and through centrifugal force, the juice is pressed out of the flesh through a mesh filter. The remaining pulp goes to a collection chamber after extrication and the juice funnels out to a separate collection chamber.

Centrifugal juicing machines are fast but tend to be loud. They are purse friendly. They juice soft and hard fruits and vegetables but struggle with leafy greens and grasses. The juice that is extracted using a centrifugal juicing machine tends to have more oxidation due to the process. Oxidation expedites the breakdown of essential enzymes. The juice that is extracted is often frothy and has the appearance of being whipped up.

Masticating Juicing Machines

Masticating juicing machines are based on extracting the juice from fruits, vegetables, nuts, and grasses by “chewing” the meat. They are also referred to as cold-press juicers because it is through sheer pressure that the juice is squeezed out. There are minimal blades to break the large pieces smaller as they squeeze through the tube. The meat is pushed through a tube that gets smaller as it goes forward. There is a grooved rod pushing the meat through while pressing it against the screen walls. The juice falls into a collection vessel, and the pulp is pushed through the front to be collected in a separate container.

Masticating juicing machines are considerably slower but quiet. They can juice all types of fruits and vegetables as well as handle leafy greens, nuts and grasses. There is less oxidation of the juice that is produced because this is a slow process. The pulp that is produced tends to be drier because more juice is extracted. You can also use a masticating juicing machine to make baby food, nut butter, frozen sorbets, and pasta.

Masticating Juicer Brands

Omega was founded in the mid-1980’s and initially called Olympic Products. The founder, Robert Leo, had a 20-year history improving the juicing industry by listening to customers and delivering products they wanted. Omega is the only brand on the market that offers centrifuge, masticating and pulp-ejection style juicers. They are based out of Florida, USA.

Breville is a combination of the last names of the two founders, Bill O’Brien and Harry Norville in 1932. They started making radios and mine detectors for the war. They have become a reliable name in Australia and Europe for kitchen appliances, toasters, sandwich machines, food processors, tea kettles, etc. Breville got a huge boost in demand from the documentary, Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead in 2011. They are based out of Europe

NUC Electronics Co. owns Kuvings. NUC is in business developing “healthy” kitchen appliances. NUC products are known for quality and ease of use. They are based out of Korea.

Juicer Comparison

Juicer

Name

Price Range

Best For

Omega J8006

$$$

Juicer for the Money

Omega J8004

$$

Juicer for Wheat Grass

Kuvings Whole Slow Juicer

$$$$

Juicer for Large Produce

Tribest Green Star Elite

$$$$$

Juicer for Portability

Omega VRT350

$$$

Juicer for Ease of Cleaning

The 5 Best Masticating Juicers

#1 Omega J8006 Nutrition Center Juicer

Best Masticating Juicer for the Money $$$

Omega is a leader in the juicer industry. With their history of listening to the consumer, it is no leap to find them at the top of our list. The Omega J8006 is a powerhouse that stands up to the Omega name. This little machine can handle what is considered too hard for centrifugal juicer machines. It can even handle nuts, grains, and wheat grass. The motor is powerful but remains cool under the heaviest loads. This is important since heat can break down those precious enzymes you are extracting.

Being able to make more than just juice is another factor the Omega J8006 made it to the top of the list. You can use nuts to make your own butter that is much healthier than trending brands. If you soak your nuts in water and run them through the Omega J8006 you can make your own milk. Baby foods on the markets can be filled with water and chemicals. Use this to make baby food and be assured that your child is eating only natural ingredients. The options are only limited as far as your brain will go. This juicer is backed by a 15-year manufacturer’s warranty in case your mind does push this over the edge, or there is a manufacturer’s defect.

#2 Omega J8004 Nutrition Center Juicer

Best Masticating Juicer for Wheat Grass $$

The Omega J8004 has the same benefits as the Omega J8006 butt at a lower price point. Omega was able to do this by just changing the cosmetics of the housing. Instead of chrome, it is white. You will still have the same powerful engine that can juice things are hard as nuts and pineapple while being able to extract juice from leafy greens and wheat grass.

#3 Kuvings Whole Slow Juicer B6000SR

Best Masticating Juicer for Large Produce $$$$

Kuvings whole slow juicer B6000SR is the top of the vertical masticating juicers. Consumers asked for a wider feeder tube. Kuvings has answered that request with a 3” wide feeder tube. This elevates the need to pre-cut many fruits and vegetables. Feel free to put in whole apples, oranges, and even zucchini.

Kuvings has also listened to the consumer about the challenges of cleaning. They have devised a cleaning tool that fits the screen. The screen sits in a bed of gentle brushes that you can twist over the screen to get out fine pulp. Kuvings protects their machine with a 10 year limited warranty.

#4 Tribest Green Star Elite GSE-5000

Best Masticating Juicer for Portability $$$$$

Tribest Green Star Elite GSE-5000 is a power portable juicer. The balanced sure-grip handle allows you to be the life of a party. The mastication system is fierce. It has twin gears to emulate the action of human mastication. The teeth of this machine, slice, cut and grind the food, getting the most juice possible. The pulp that is left behind is bone dry.

The Tribest Green Star Elite comes in at the most expensive machine in this review, but the design of the gears and ease of mobility make this our number 4 pick. Tribest backs this juicer with a 12-year warranty.

#5 Omega VRT350

Best Masticating Juicer for Ease of Cleaning $$$

The second vertical juicer on the list, the Omega VRT350 comes with all the knowledge and consumer understanding that the Omega brand carries. We feel this powerful juicer deserves space on your counter where you will be reminded to juice for the day. We also like the fact that on days you want more juice there is a second spout that will accommodate a second 64 oz. container. This makes it also a great option for a family that juices regularly. Compared to centrifugal juicers that accommodate 128 oz., the Omega VRT350 takes up less space.

This juicer also offers three settings, on, off and reverse. The reverse is an excellent feature when juicing a lot at once or with hard foods. You are able to unclog or get food unstuck and continue on juicing in just a quick flip of a switch. Omega backs its vertical juicers with a ten-year warranty.

Honorable Mentions

There are so many fantastic masticating juicers on the market we felt the need to mention the 5 runner ups:

Juicer Buyer’s Guide

Do you prefer centrifugal or masticating juicers? Besides how the juice is extracted, the main difference is what types of food you can juice. If you are interested in juicing green leafy vegetables, then a masticating juicer is the option for you. It can also handle juicing nuts, grains, and wheat grass. Centrifugal juicers spin at high rates of speed, around 1500-2000 RPM, and excrete the pulp while still slightly wet. Masticating juicers perform at much slower speeds, 80 RPM, and the pulp comes out almost with no moisture.

How much do you want to spend? While masticating juicers tend to cost more than centrifugal, there are many masticating juicers for around a couple hundred dollars. Money saved on a machine may not give you the results that you are looking for.

Do you want your juicer to perform other tasks? Many masticating juicers can perform other functions. They can work as a food processor and make baby food. They are strong enough to grind coffee. By soaking nuts, you can make your own nut butter and nut milk like almond or walnut milk. Some masticating juicers can make even make pasta. Centrifugal juicing machines work fine with most fruits and vegetables, but when it comes to the fluffy things like kale, spinach and wheat grass, they struggle.

How much space can you give to your juicer? The first masticating juicers were much larger than many that are on the market today. Vertical Masticating juicers are in response to consumers need for smaller machines. Manufacturers have been able to change to a vertical design without losing power. Some juicers come with large reservoirs. These take up more space but are ideal for families that use their juicer on a daily basis.

How much time can you spend juicing? Centrifugal juicers are faster than masticating juicers. The amount of juice and the high level of oxidation in the juice from centrifugal juicers should be considered. Large feeders on a juicer will cut down on your prep time. Most centrifugal juicers have always had large feeders while horizontal masticating juicers have much smaller feeding tubes. Masticating juicer manufacturers have heard the demand and have reconfigured the design and are developing more vertical masticating juicers with wide feeding tubes.

How easy are they to clean? Juicers that have many screens and blades are much more complicated to clean. Many juicing machine manufacturers have acknowledged that clean-up time can deter some buyers. Several have designed cleaning tools unique to their machine. You can take a quick guess as to how difficult a juicer will be to clean by how many parts it has.

If you are choosing a masticating juicer, do you buy one with a single auger or double auger? A juicer with a single auger will cost less but will not hold up as long. Double auger juicers will withstand much more abuse. If you are looking to juice harder food like pineapple, nuts, wheat grass and grains you would be best buying the double auger.

With so many varieties of juicers on the market, a consumer will get the best-suited juicer by doing some homework. First, go through the buyer guide. Once you have decided on the style of juicer, research and compare 4 or 5 different juicers of your liking. Compare the bells and whistles to find the one that best fits your lifestyle

Conclusion

With so many varieties of juicers on the market a consumer will get the best-suited juicer by doing some homework. First, go through the buyer guide. Once you have decided on the style of juicer, research and compare 4 or 5 different juicers of your liking. Compare the bells and whistles to find the one that best fits your lifestyle.

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